ProMedica and The University of Toledo College of Medicine have finalized an academic affiliation agreement that will enable the two organizations to develop one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. The academic and clinical medical model will recruit medical students, physicians and researchers to northwest Ohio and benefit our communities for generations to come.
A signing ceremony will take place Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. at the Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Toledo.
“Our goal is to establish one of the nation’s premier academic medical programs that will attract and retain the best caregivers and specialists,” said Randy Oostra, ProMedica president and chief executive officer. “This agreement lays the foundation for our long-term vision to create healthy individuals and healthy communities for generations to come.”
“As we look out at the next half century, this affiliation positions both organizations to be national leaders in health-care education and medical research,” said UT President Sharon Gaber.
The focus of the agreement is on academics and research as well as:
• Offering a broader range of educational and training opportunities for future physicians and medical professionals;
• Attracting and retaining a greater percentage of physicians and other medical specialists;
• Increasing clinical training capacity that will be comparable to other major academic centers;
• Creating new jobs and driving community revitalization, economic and business development opportunities; and
• Enhancing research and innovation opportunities.
Substantially, all of UT’s medical students, residents and fellows will be placed at ProMedica facilities. The agreement includes a commitment by ProMedica to support the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences, including teaching, research, and the college’s facilities.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to enrich the quality of medical education and expand our clinical training capacity in Toledo and northwest Ohio,” said Dr. Lee Hammerling, ProMedica chief medical officer. “We’re very excited about the future.”
According to a recent report released by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the nation will face a shortage of between 46,000 to 90,000 physicians by 2025, including primary and specialty care. At the same time, the demand for physicians continues to intensify as a result of the nation’s growing and aging population.
The partnership will be governed by an Academic Affiliation Operating Group, which will serve to develop and implement an academic and programmatic plan for the affiliation. The group will be comprised of six members with equal representation from both parties. A first key action by the group will be the development of a transition plan, which is anticipated to begin implementation in July 2016.
The dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Dr. Christopher Cooper, will chair the Academic Affiliation Operating Group.
“The outcomes of this agreement will be truly transformational,” said Cooper, who also serves as UT’s executive vice president for clinical affairs. “For too long, we have educated students that have traveled to other parts of the country to practice medicine. Thanks to UT’s and ProMedica’s affiliation, not only will we retain far greater numbers of the health-care providers we educate, but I have no doubt students, residents and clinical faculty will be drawn to northwest Ohio and what we have created together.”
For more information about ProMedica, visit promedica.org/aboutus. For more information about UT, visit utoledo.edu.
